Royal Commission
On 15 December 2017 the Royal Commission presented a final report to Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, detailing the culmination of a five year inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and related matters. 2020 marks the three year anniversary of this event.
This page contains information about the Royal Commission, and a link to the final report.
About the Royal Commission
On Friday 11 January 2013, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, appointed a six-member Royal Commission to investigate Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Royal Commission inquired into how institutions with a responsibility for children have managed and responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse. It investigated where systems failed to protect children, and made recommendations on how to improve laws, policies and practices to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse in institutions.
The Commissioners looked at private, public and non-government organizations that are, or were in the past, involved with children, including government agencies, schools, sporting clubs, orphanages, foster care, and religious organisations.
This includes where they considered an organisation caring for a child is responsible for the abuse or for not responding appropriately, regardless of where or when the abuse took place.
The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM was appointed Chair of the Commission. Justice McClellan has held since 2005, one of the most senior judicial positions in the New South Wales judiciary as the Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
The other five Commissioners were Mr. Bob Atkinson AO APM, the former Queensland Police Commissioner, Justice Jennifer Coate, Family Court Judge and former Victorian Coroner and, Mr. Robert Fitzgerald AM, Productivity Commissioner, Professor Helen Milroy, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and former Senator for Western Australia, Mr. Andrew Murray.
The Final Report:
Volume 4: Identifying and Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse
Volume 6: Making Institutions Child Safe
Volume 7: Improving Institutional Responding and Reporting
Volume 8: Recordkeeping and Information Sharing
Volume 9: Advocacy, Support, and Therapeutic Treatment Services
Volume 10: Children with Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Volume 11: Historical Residential Institutions
Volume 12: Contemporary Out-of-Home Care
Volume 14: Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture, Community
Volume 15: Contemporary Detention Environments
Volume 16 Book 1: Religious Institutions
Volume 16 Book 2: Religious Institutions
Volume 16 Book 3: Religious Institutions
Volume 17: Beyond the Royal Commission
CLAN Submissions:
Royal Commission Consultation Paper
News Articles
‘Terrible crime’: Royal Commission’s Final Abuse Report Makes 189 New Recommendations, 15 December 2017 (SBS News)